ENCEPHALITIS CONFIRMED

Two chickens thought to be infected with mosquito-borne St. Louis encephalitis virus have been confirmed, a state Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services spokeswoman said on Friday.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation, and we urge people to take precautions against getting bitten, especially at night," spokeswoman Beth Owen said. Nighttime is when the Culex nigripalpus mosquito, which carries the virus, is active.

The two infected birds, called sentinel chickens, are in flocks kept in western Boca Raton and western Lake Worth, Owen said. She said there have been no recent reports of humans contracting the virus in South Florida.

Health officials suggest that people wear long sleeves and full-length pants at night and consider using insect repellent.